coco16i

Am thinking about having a go at converting a MK5 escort to either RWD or maybe 4x4 and wondered if anyone could give me some info about doing the conversion.

I can get a 3dr MK5 for nothing as they have lost the keys and dont want to spend any money on the car getting a new PATS module and key programmed etc so was thinking about stripping it out to a bare shell and starting from there

If i make it 4x4 how much of a sierra floor pan would i have to use and where do i join it all at the inner wings and bulkhead area, this is really the only bit that has me thinking quite hard !

If anyone has done a conversion like this can they give me an idea how to go about it all, i know it will take time and be a lot of work but am prepared to put in the graft in order to have something a bit different.

Would like to make it cossie engined but cant afford to at the moment so have to settle for either 2.0 pinto or a V6 from a 4x4.

Cheers.

PeterD

I know you said you didnt want to spend money (before anyone jumps and says read the post again tut tut) but you could by and RS2k 4x4 and start from there

That way you could always turbo the I4, not many been done i dont think.

good luck though mate

abdr500

iTrader: (1)

ford did

Ad4m RST

Do what another guy did...

Get a RS2000 4x4 then stick in a 2.3 galaxy lump and turbo it

Sure someone will put up a link for his car, proper animal

coco16i

Yeah mate i know Ford made the RS2000 4x4 but defeats the purpose really.....want to build one myself and due to kids, mortgage etc etc i dont have the spare dough to go and spend Ł1500 or so buying a RS2k 4x4

Far more satisfaction doing it all from scratch anyway

And cheaper

gingeRS

i dont think you would have to change much if at all of the floor pan

as the rs2000 was available in a 4x4 and they had the same floor plan as a standard escort

i understand where you are coming from about the building idea etc, but it will end up costing you loads in the long run as mk6 rs2000 parts are quite hard to come by.

what are your plans RE engine etc. take it this mk5 is a single point injection (or carb?) model, if so you will prob end up changing everything from the floor up and ending up with an rs2000

Danny B

If you dont even have Ł1500 then in all honestly dont even attempt this, Parts and materials aloan would cost you that, then there all the equipment you would need and not to mention the knowledge, And nothing against you but it your unsure on simple things like your asking then you shouldn't be attempting this as it will result in a dangerous car.

Save up and buy a 4x4 knowing you can SAFELY take your family out in it.

coco16i

I have all the equipment needed to do a job of this magnitude and as for knowledge im a mechanic to trade and have repaired many damaged repairable cars in the past

There's nothing simple about attempting a conversion like this and just wanted a rough idea of the problems i might encounter before i start.

Saving up for a 4x4 kind of defeats the purpose really as im doing this as a project and something to occupy my time in the evenings and weekends.

And as for safety regarding taking my family out in it, i wouldnt take them out in it if i wasn't 100% sure it was completely safe and all done correctly, hence the reason im asking for advise from anyone that might have already done such a conversion.

coco16i

Still not quite sure what engine to go for but reckon a 2.0 Pinto is the most likely candidate as know where i can get a 2.1 for very little money

Im hoping the whole thing wont cost that much to do as know of a few old scrapped sierra's i could source and required parts from and think the main expense will be my time which wont cost anything ( well apart from all the grief from my wife for spending so much time in the garage working on it!)

I just fancied giving it a go as wanted to try something like this for a while and am sure this could be done on a reasonably tight budget as will be doing all the work myself, including all the bodywork and painting.

Paul_RS

iTrader: (4)

The RS2000 4x4 has a unique shell as far as i know.

Easiest way of doing this would surely be to stick the escort shell on a sapph floor pan?

Fudgey

iTrader: (4)

basically on the 4x4 sierra your going to need to cut from the inner arches (so get all the front turrets etc) along top of bulkhead and down both sides of the car, pretty much the complete floorpan with bulkhead, chassis rails and inner wings.

the good thing about the sierra is there are only 4 mounting points for the rear sus, and two for the front cross member.

on the other hand, it may be easierto get the engine and running gear that you want to use all in place on a spaceframes and then simply fabricate sheet steel around that?

GARETH T

the thing is, you would be re angineering the car and not just rebuilding it!

most of the conversions ive seen are SHIT and unsafe

coco16i

Thats what i was thinking

Would just have been a help to know if anyone had done this and could tell me where the best and strongest places are to mate them together.

coco16i

I know its changing the cars structure completely and am confident in my ability to do it in a correct manner and make sure its as strong if not stronger than original. Have replaced plenty of floor and door post sections before and even replaced a few roofs on XR3i's quite a few years ago so am looking at this as being a new challenge and basically hoping to hear from people who have tried it and know the best way of going about it.

escort mk6

As youll allready know its tonnes of work
My bro (stoo) has his orion at adrenaline at the mo having such a conversion done (4x4 cosworth).

https://passionford.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=246092

Comming on well, and isnt having a full floor change

GARETH T

well there no harm in giving it a go

NUTS RuS

iTrader: (35)

A chap in our motorclub had one with a red top valver in it (common for a rally car). He converted his to run Mk2 escort stuff.

Been trying to find a pic of it but failing at the minute.

NUTS RuS

iTrader: (35)

Aahhh found some





Dosn't help with your ideas - but it has been done

rssteve

cocofireblade likes repairing unsafe cars and selling them on. Seem to remember an RS focus replica that had to be rebuilt after you sold it as a damage repaired.

NUTS RuS

iTrader: (35)

Who's the "you" refering to ?